Of all the bands once touted as being the “next U2” back in the early 1980s (anyone else remember Big Country?), Scottish art-rockers Simple Minds were the ones who probably came the closest to actually grabbing that big, brass ring.

But although their actual run at the top was one of those brief, blink-and-you-could’ve-missed-it moments so common to any number of bands lumped under the umbrella of “New Wave” back then, Simple Minds were far more than just another 1980s one-hit wonder. It should also be noted that of all those would-be successors to the throne of Bono and company, Simple Minds are just about the only ones still making records (their latest, Big Music, was released late last year).

That “one hit” was of course, “Don’t You Forget About Me,” which became a worldwide smash after being featured in the brat-pack movie The Breakfast Club. Interestingly, they didn’t even write that song. But it is still the one they are most often associated with today (along with, though to a slightly lesser degree, “Alive And Kicking” – a song which they actually did write).

But what Simple Minds real fans – and not just the ones who sing those two aforementioned hits on karaoke night – remember most from that short-lived period, are the three great albums the band released between 1983-85: New Gold Dream, Sparkle In The Rain, and Once Upon A Time.

As the album that served as the bridge between Simple Minds artsy-fartsy beginnings that peaked on the dreamy, atmospheric New Gold Dream, and the big stadium anthems that became their eventual calling card with Once Upon A Time, it’s not surprising that 1984’s Sparkle In The Rain is really the meat in this particular sandwich.

Sparkle in the Rain is the sixth studio album by Scottish rock band Simple Minds, released in February 1984 by record label Virgin in the UK and A&M in the US. A breakthrough commercial success for the band, the record peaked at number 1 in the UK Albums Chart on 18 February 1984, and reached the top 20 in numerous other countries around the world, including New Zealand, Netherlands, Sweden. Provided to YouTube by SonoSuiteMaking Sparkle in the Rain Simple Minds1984℗ IntertecReleased on: 1991-09-16Auto-generated by YouTube. TRACK LISTING 01. Up On The Catwalk 02. Book Of Brillant Things 03. Speed Your Love To Me 04. East At Easter 06. Street Hassle 07.

Although there are a few missteps here (not the least of which is their well-intentioned, though ultimately droning, meandering cover of Lou Reed’s “Street Hassle”), fans who cite 1983-85 as Simple Minds golden period will almost unanimously tell you that Sparkle was a pivotal turning point.

This is the album where Simple Minds went big.

Everything about Sparkle – which gets the 30th anniversary treatment (albeit a year too late) with a deluxe boxed set coming out March 31 – suggests a band hungry to break away from its status as an artsy cult band at the time, only to make that big, bold grab.

While this album documents a band clearly still in transition, it also set the stage for them to do exactly that.

The first thing you notice about Sparkle In The Rain are the big, brash sounding drums. These come mainly courtesy of producer-of-the-moment Steve Lillywhite, whose credits at the time included XTC and of course his biggest clients U2. Lillywhite productions were instantly recognizable for the big drum sound he favored (a trademark he shared with fellow 1980s producer Phil Collins).

Big drums were big Steve’s thing, and the drums on Sparkle are absolutely, ridiculously enormous. Listening to these songs some thirty years later, you also start to see that besides sounding somewhat dated now, the sound of the big boom – impressive as it may have seemed at the time – often tends to overwhelm the songs themselves.

Even so, in terms of great songs Sparkle In The Rain has more than its share of real keepers. The long-lost extended versions of largely forgotten gems like “Waterfront,” “Up On The Catwalk” and especially “Speed Your Love To Me” (originally released as 12″ vinyl singles – remember those?), are particularly welcome additions to this boxed set.

There is also a full 1984 concert from Glasgow (that also includes songs from New Gold Dream) and parts of a BBC radio broadcast included here. An import version of this boxed set also includes a surround mix for Blu-ray from the ever prolific Steven Wilson.

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CB: 'We had written and toured it before recording. It was going to be different live, withall the big dynamics. We'd debuted Waterfront when we supported U2 at Phoenix Park in Dublin. We knew the record was going to belike that.' JK: 'New Gold Dream had taken us out to the European festivals for the first time and we started to think howit would be great if we could get across on the widest stages. Lo and behold, Waterfrontturns up. We were never that calculated but, at the same time, we were analytical. The touring took over and, in a sense, itwas a little half-finished. Some of my favourite stuff is on there, but it's bitty. The cover of Lou Reed'sStreet Hassle meant we'd run out of tracks. Now we say to do an album of 10great tracks you need to be working on 20-25 ideas. And to top it all, it's got the worst album cover in the world.' Record Collector Interview Record Collector #364 July 2009

MM:Simple Minds songs always have excellent titles. Do they come to you first before the music? JK: The titles do they are separate. Ever since I was a kid, I had this notebook I don’t know why but I had little pieces and storiesin the book. It always struck me how language could work and how different phrases could strike you in different contexts. I suppose I alwaysthought about song and album titles to be as striking as book titles. Sparkle in the Rain is one of my favorite album titles. Youwill laugh when you hear where I got the title from. We were working in the Townhouse studio, and it was a horrible day. I went outside andjumped into a taxi, we had a day or two to go before finishing the album, and we still didn’t know the title. The cab pulled up next to a busstop, and a guy was standing reading the paper. I can’t remember what team it was but let’s say it was Queens Park Rangers had played the nightbefore. And on the back of the paper, it said 'Queens Sparkle in the Rain.' And I really liked that.' Jim Kerr and Mark Millar xsnoize.com January 2018

'There was no European in it, no President getting shot, no fugitives.

Simple Minds Sparkle In The Rain Review

' – Jim

The band recorded their last David 'Kid' Jensen session to support the album. It was recorded on the 11th September 1983 andbroadcast on the 3rd October 1983. Jim and Mel were in the studiowith Jensen when the session tracks were aired, and the broadcast also marked the first public play of thejust-finished studio version of Waterfront.

• Was there a New Gold Dream Part 2? 'It wasn't good enough to create 'New Gold Dream II', much as many of their new-foundsupporters might have wished for it. Several excellent new tracks were junked or comprehensively rewritten as the group felt their way withinstinctive certainly towards the fierce uncluttered dynamics of 'Sparkle In The Rain' - Adam Sweeting.
• Writing sessions began at The Chapel, a recording studio near South Thoresby, Lincolnshire in February 1983. (They would've preferredRockfield but the studios were fully booked.)
• 'Every January and February is the same to me. We always use January and February to work on new ideas. We neverreally get around to forming them, so they're always half-baked. - Jim.
• The entire band (Jim, Charlie,Mick, Derek and Mel)were there to simply jam and try and come up with new material.
• Some tracks were based around the rhythm patterns of the xxx synth with Charlie andMick MacNeil jamming over the top.
• At the end of the sessions, a six-track demo tape was produced.
• The one sided acetates were cut before the album was named; but by the time the one sided test pressings were pressed on the 2nd December 1983, the album was calledSparkle In The Rain.
• In February 1984, Sparkle In The Rain was the first Simple Minds' album to be released simultaneously on vinyl, cassette and CD. The vinylcopies included a glossy inner sleeve with heavily stylized graphics, whilst the CD booklet featured exclusive pictures of the band and someof the lyrics of Book Of Brilliant Things.
• A limited edition white vinyl pressing was also available, although the only difference (apart fromthe colour of the vinyl) was a sticker on the sleeve.
• No other collectable versions of the album appeared, except in Canada, where a limited edition run were pressed intransparent vinyl. This has become the most collectable of the various commercial releases of the album.
• Promotional issues were also lacking, with one exception. Whilst the gold stamped promo from the USwas worth looking out for, Virgin Canada issued a promotional Sparkle In The Rain notepad with the album's shield graphic on everypage.
• One of the rarest, and oddest, of the special pressings, was the test pressing from Virgin New Zealand.This one-sided test pressing features the A-side of the album, and on the blank vinyl on the flip, the record company staffhave etched 'Merry Xmas Love Virgin NZ' and signed their names.
• The album was released on Virgin's budget range in March 1991, anticipating increased demand after the releaseof Real Life. It was reissued on LP (Virgin OVED 346) and cassette (Virgin OVEDC 346).

  Released 36 years ago this week. Listen to Waterfront and you tell me ifthe record sounds dated? Although not for me to mark my own report card, I'd vouch that Steve Lillywhite's production makes it feel timeless. Much like the river thatour city was built on in fact. The same one that by chance, after a walk along its bank during a July sunset, inspired thechanted lyrics that gave an image to Derek Forbes' roadhouse tune. Despite our excitement on release, music critics were not universally receptive to Sparkle In The Rain. Only 40% werewelcoming of our new direction, and although I could not understand their grumbling then, I can do so a bit more now.Likewise a fair number of fans, entranced by our previous album New Gold Dream, hoping for more of the same, were to be disappointed.But Simple Minds are never keen on repeating, then and now.Change has been the lifeblood of our band, no matter how awkward or how painful it can sometimes be. Alternately a lot of people loved that album. And we had no problem in seeing it become our first UK No 1.Also featuring Up On The Catwalk,Book Of Brilliant Things, Speed Your Love To Me, East at Easter, among others.The energy of music is breathtaking throughout. Lyrics? Well I'd say that they are uniquely Simple Minds.And it's not that easy to be unique. Don't believe me? Try it for yourself and let me know how you get on? Any faults on the album? Of course.Going back to Steve's production? Great as it is, it could have donewith more light and shade. And we could have done with more rehearsals before recording began. If so, some ofthe songs on the second side would have had better arrangements, become better songs. No doubt it would also have helped if yours truly had written more lyrics upfront - as opposed to keeping everyonein the dark until the last minute. (Akin to asking everyone to run a marathon - without telling them where the finishing line is?) Fave song? One that I would want to listen to right now? Well, its early morning and the last thing I'd want to do is listen to my voice.Being so, I'd choose the charming instrumental that works as the album finale.It's called Shake Off The Ghosts.And I could listen to a whole album of that kind of stuff. Jim Kerr 7th February 2019

  
  
• The album was remastered in 2002 as part of an extensive Virgin campaign.It was released as a limited edition vinyl replica CD and standard edition CD. This version remains on catalogue.

sparkle in the rain: quick reference
LP	Sparkle In The Rain	Virgin V 2300
A1. Up On The Catwalk	(4:45)
A2. Book Of Brilliant Things	(4:20)
A3. Speed Your Love To Me	(4:25)
A4. Waterfront	(4:49)
A5. East At Easter	(3:30)
B1. Street Hassle	(5:15)
B2. White Hot Day	(4:33)
B3. 'C' Moon Cry Like A Baby	(4:21)
B4. The Kick Inside Of Me	(4:45)
B5. Shake Off The Ghosts	(3:58)
MC	Sparkle In The Rain	Virgin TCV 2300
1-1. Up On The Catwalk	(4:45)
1-2. Book Of Brilliant Things	(4:20)
1-3. Speed Your Love To Me	(4:25)
1-4. Waterfront	(4:49)
1-5. East At Easter	(3:30)
2-1. Street Hassle	(5:15)
2-2. White Hot Day	(4:33)
2-3. 'C' Moon Cry Like A Baby	(4:21)
2-4. The Kick Inside Of Me	(4:45)
2-5. Shake Off The Ghosts	(3:58)
CD	Sparkle In The Rain	Virgin CDV 2300
1. Up On The Catwalk	(4:45)
2. Book Of Brilliant Things	(4:20)
3. Speed Your Love To Me	(4:25)
4. Waterfront	(4:49)
5. East At Easter	(3:30)
6. Street Hassle	(5:15)
7. White Hot Day	(4:33)
8. 'C' Moon Cry Like A Baby	(4:21)
9. The Kick Inside Of Me	(4:45)
10. Shake Off The Ghosts	(3:58)

Simple Minds Sparkle In The Rain Album Cover